While I wouldnt believe anything until I see it, people forget a couple pretty key facts.
First, Moss is still but two years removed from the greatest start to a receiving career. Ever.
Second, which is obviously related to the first, is that Moss' physical talents could very well be the greatest the game has ever seen at WR.
I don't expect to ever see "that" Moss again.
But I'd never discount it, either. He's a freak (in a damn good way), for a reason.
And he just now turned 30. How many WRs blossomed in their 30s? And how many of those WRs had anything close to Moss's talent? If he can just get some place where he has a little respect for his coach or another player a la Favre, he's good for another 400 receptions, 6000 yards and 50 TDs.
I don't know, please give some "blossomed" examples. You know, of someone who started a decline and then started improving again. Not talking about Rice or Harrison, etc. Those guys didn't decline severely in their late 20s and then blow up again after 30.Maybe there is an example, but I would love to know of a WR that was say a Pro-Bowler or top 10, then declined for a few years and then came back as a Pro-Bowler/top 10 for either 1 freak season or actually sustained it.
Not going to dig too deep, but some current players who had very good seasons early in their careers, a few hiccups and then regained their form: Terry Glenn, Joey Galloway, Laveranues Coles and Isaac Bruce.And to compare Moss to Harrison and Rice is a little unfair. Both of those guys would have suffered a drop-off if they'd have had to play for the Raiders the last few years themselves.
How bout Henry Ellard in '94 after a disappointing two seasons with the Rams?+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1983 ram | 12 | 3 7 2.3 0 | 16 268 16.8 0 |
| 1984 ram | 16 | 3 -5 -1.7 0 | 34 622 18.3 6 |
| 1985 ram | 16 | 3 8 2.7 0 | 54 811 15.0 5 |
| 1986 ram | 9 | 1 -15 -15.0 0 | 34 447 13.1 4 |
| 1987 ram | 12 | 1 4 4.0 0 | 51 799 15.7 3 |
| 1988 ram | 16 | 1 7 7.0 0 | 86 1414 16.4 10 |
| 1989 ram | 14 | 2 10 5.0 0 | 70 1382 19.7 8 |
| 1990 ram | 15 | 2 21 10.5 0 | 76 1294 17.0 4 |
| 1991 ram | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 64 1052 16.4 3 |
| 1992 ram | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 47 727 15.5 3 |
| 1993 ram | 16 | 2 18 9.0 0 | 61 945 15.5 2 |
| 1994 was | 16 | 1 -5 -5.0 0 | 74 1397 18.9 6 |
| 1995 was | 15 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 56 1005 17.9 5 |
| 1996 was | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 52 1014 19.5 2 |
| 1997 was | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 32 485 15.2 4 |
| 1998 nwe | 5 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 5 86 17.2 0 |
| 1998 was | 2 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 2 29 14.5 0 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 228 | 19 50 2.6 0 | 814 13777 16.9 65 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+